She is not an investigator.

"You don't look like a detective at all. Judging by appearances is certainly not a good habit, but I can't see anything reliable about you. This world is more dangerous than you think. If you just want to satisfy your own interests, I advise you to change your interests now, or at least find one that is safer and more suitable for you."

After being reprimanded by Igris, the girl frowned slightly, but she didn't seem particularly angry, and seemed to understand where Igris' prejudice came from.

"You have a sharp tongue, but do you know that you are actually the one most likely to be judged by your appearance?"

At least the girl didn't appear to be malnourished.

"If you really want to argue, I don't have time to waste on you. This is my advice, whether you listen to it or not is up to you."

Detectives who walk the line between secrecy and truth will inevitably come into contact with events or objects they shouldn't. This kind of danger is not something an ordinary person can easily handle. Igris put it bluntly because the girl really does seem like just a so-called detective enthusiast, doing things that could cost her her life or even more, without any awareness of the danger.

"If you think I can't do it, why don't you see it for yourself?"

The girl blocked Igris's path, trapping her in the hospital room.

"I don't have that much time to waste on you."

"Weekly salary is twenty silver dollars."

The girl snapped her fingers and gave Igris a polite smile.

"Please come and see if I am qualified."

"..."

Igris frowned slightly, looking at her opponent's confident expression, and sighed helplessly.

"twenty five."

"make a deal."

Seeing the two leave the ward one after the other, Ling, who had just been worried that the two might fight, breathed a sigh of relief.

"All that talk is just because you think the money isn't enough..."

Then, Ling looked at the banana peel in her hand and began to struggle with how to throw it away.

……

"You even have a car?"

"Don't I look like I have a driver's license?"

The young girl very politely opened the car door for Igris and invited her to sit in this mode of transportation that was almost exclusively available to the upper class.

"You still haven't told me what you've requested."

I thought you'd be more curious about my name.

The girl sat in the driver's seat and turned her head slightly to look at Igris.

“Olivia Palmiso is twenty years old.”

Without looking up, Igris read out the girl's name and age, then tossed her a wallet.

"Let's make it clear beforehand, I didn't take any money from inside."

The girl paused for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh.

"Since you know my name, shouldn't I also know yours?"

“Igris Selena, just call me Igris.”

Olivia nodded in satisfaction, leaned back in her seat, and didn't rush to start the car.

Do you know what the Tears of the Ocean are?

The Gods' Fool - The Castle's Invitation: Chapter One, The History of the Noval Family

Raymond Noval, a former nobleman and now a wealthy businessman and world-renowned collector, cordially invites all friends to attend his collection exhibition.

At the end of a long highway, in a secluded garden hidden by jungle, sits a historic castle that can be called a work of art.

That was the glory that once belonged to the Noval family, a symbol of their nobility, and proof of Raymond's vast wealth.

His family did not decline and fall into disgrace under his leadership, but instead became a benchmark of the new era, proclaiming its strength to everyone.

Almost all nobles, business tycoons, and leaders in any field received invitations to attend this grand banquet.

Even after excluding waiters, guards, maids, and staff, there were still over a hundred people present. Yet, in this historic castle, they each had their own room and didn't feel crowded at all.

Everyone was filled with anticipation for the banquet and curiosity about the collection.

Countless reporters were eager to get firsthand information, and many noblemen were also looking to broaden their horizons, offer a few compliments, and use this opportunity to curry favor with the Noval family and reap huge profits.

In many cases, interests are more worthy of pursuit than etiquette. Even if they are nobles rather than merchants, as long as they have money, the so-called historical heritage seems to become less important.

As the evening bells rang, countless people, with different thoughts but equally full of anticipation, arrived in the hall to witness the various collections that Raymond had gathered over the years.

They are displayed in crystal cabinets, where soft light shines down from above, bathing each treasure in a soft glow.

These collections include jewelry, ancient books, famous paintings, and antiques.

Each item bears the marks of time, and the culture they represent fully demonstrates their value, proving that Raymond's title as a collector is not merely nominal.

But the most important of all his treasures is that gem, the most precious and rarest of all his possessions.

"Ladies and gentlemen..."

Raymond strolled through the center of the hall, his impeccably tailored suit making the middle-aged man, who was over fifty, look as dashing and energetic as ever.

He held a golden cane that appeared to be inlaid with gold in his hand, and slowly bowed under everyone's gaze.

"Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend this gathering. I am Raymond Noval, the owner of this castle."

He gave a brief self-introduction to the crowd, which was met with enthusiastic applause.

Everyone who comes here knows who he is.

As he gently pressed down on his palm, the applause gradually stopped, and he continued speaking.

"Although there are already many collections here, which are indeed very precious and full of value and cultural significance, and each one is a very rare treasure, I think everyone will not be satisfied with this."

After saying that, he clapped his hands, and several servants came over and handed Raymond a button.

"I'm sure everyone has been eagerly anticipating what the legendary gem really looks like."

As he pressed the button, a crisp sound of gears turning rang out, and the floor in front of him slowly opened a gap, raising a display case.

The crystal case was covered with a red cloth, obscuring its contents. Everyone's eyes held a hint of anticipation and curiosity as they craned their necks, eager to catch a glimpse of the beautiful gemstone.

"Next... please enjoy the ocean's tears."

Raymond then lifted the red cloth covering the crystal case, completely exposing its contents to everyone's view.

……

"To everyone's surprise, the cabinet was completely empty; there was no Tear of the Ocean at all."

As Olivia drove, she casually recounted the story of the upcoming commission to Igris.

"So it was stolen? I've heard this story countless times."

While chatting while driving doesn't seem like a good idea, Olivia wasn't driving very fast and seemed quite composed, so she probably didn't look like she was going to have an accident.

"No, no, that was just a little joke Raymond played on everyone, and also a kind of insurance measure. He didn't put the real Ocean Tears in the display case, but under the display case."

……

"Empty...empty...?"

Everyone was stunned by the empty crystal display case, followed by a series of discussions and exclamations, and the constant sound of flashes and shutter clicks.

But Raymond didn't panic at all; instead, he just smiled nonchalantly.

"It was just a joke. Besides, how could I not have left any anti-theft measures for something so precious?"

In front of everyone, he rummaged around in the empty crystal case for a while and quickly found a hidden compartment.

"Now... please witness the true face of the Tears of the Ocean!"

Click.

As he pushed the hidden compartment, the display case slowly rose up, revealing the lower half that had been concealed in the floor to everyone.

The lower half contains a transparent crystal display case holding the Tears of the Ocean.

Raymond looked at the astonished expressions on the faces of the countless people in front of him, his back to the booth, and smiled with satisfaction.

This is exactly what he wanted to see: everyone would be captivated by the allure of the Tear of the Ocean, and everyone would understand the true status and strength of the Noval family at this moment.

Numerous forces would vie to befriend Noval, and the collector's reputation would attract more businessmen to invest in him and use him to promote their products.

Everything will reach its perfect conclusion under the beauty of the ocean's tears, and he will usher in one of the few glorious moments in his life.

A scream shattered this beautiful illusion, and when Raymond opened his eyes, the hall was already in chaos.

Countless people scrambled to escape, screaming, as if they had seen something extremely terrifying, and were terrified and wanted to flee from this place of trouble.

What's going on here?

What are they afraid of?

Afraid of the Tears of the Ocean?

Fear...of a gem?

Raymond slowly turned around and looked at the display case that had been raised, at the once transparent and pure crystal that had been stained red.

He also looked at that familiar face in that splash of red.

……

"...Are you telling me a ghost story?"

The car slowly came to a stop on the side of the road. Igris couldn't help but turn her head to look at Olivia, and Olivia smiled back at Igris.

"Are you afraid?"

"I just don't understand how this story relates to our next objective."

"I. Since the ball is related to the seven, our next destination is the castle of the Novar family. This commission is from the head of the Novar family, Nanko Novar."

"and many more…"

If Iris remembers correctly, the head of the family in the story just now wasn't called this.

"And what about Raymond?"